Flags lowered Monday for Mattawan man killed in Iraq

March 23, 2007

KALAMAZOO--By order of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. flags
on all campuses of Western Michigan University and throughout
Michigan will be lowered for one day, Monday, March 26,
in honor of Army Spc. James L. "Jimmy" Arnold of Mattawan,
Mich., who died March 15 from injuries sustained while on active
duty in Iraq.

Spc. Arnold, age 21, died when an improvised explosive device
detonated near his unit during combat operations in Baghdad.
He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Arnold was a 2004 graduate of Mattawan High School and enlisted
in 2005. He is survived by his mother and father and four sisters,
among other relatives. A funeral service is planned for Monday
in Kalamazoo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials
be directed to the Mattawan High School Foundation.

In December 2003, Gov. Granholm issued a proclamation requiring
U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state of
Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen
and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.

Michigan was among the earlier states to honor its fallen
sons and daughters by lowering flags. More than 16 states now
follow the practice in some form, including Alaska, Arkansas,
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota,
New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia.